Not a hit diary or a candidate diary.
Just someone I would like to honor.
On Cheers and Jeers I have mentioned that my Grandad would be 102 today.
He still lives in his own home.
Does his own laundry.
Cooks his own meals.
Answers his own phone.
Pays his bills.
And has done this all by himself since my Grandma died at 96 in 2003.
And it still hurts to say that about my Grandmother.
But please join me remembering....
So many things my Grandad has seen.
He took my Grandmother on an airplane ride at a county fair when they were dating.
FIVE BUCKS each! Alot of money in 1927. We kid him that it must have been Wilbur himself who flew them.
They met when his threshing crew came to harvest her dad's fields.
Back then, it was done with a crew and horses.
I asked Grandma if she thought that Grandad was cute and she said "Well, I don't know about that, but he sure looked good on that threshing machine!"
It's hard to think of them as young and in love.
But they were.
Grandad bought her a platinum wedding ring and a platinum watch as a wedding gift. I can't imagine, because he was and still is a very frugal man.
Since he wanted Grandma as his wife though, I guess he looked at it as a good investment.
He's told me stories of how hard it was to travel by car before real roads were built.
How Grandma had all five of their kids at home! Without medicine and twice with just Grandad, no doctor.
All y'all that think a Dad in the delivery room is modern, well I have to tell you, it isn't. Sometimes, back then, all you had was your husband during delivery!
One of Grandma's sisters had a boyfriend they called "rainbow".
Grandad would laugh and say we called him that because as soon as it quit raining and the roads dried up a bit, here he would come to visit.
They farmed back then, and it was tough.
My dad needed an operation to correct a birth defect. Money was tight and most people back then would have just let this go.
My dad would have been a cripple all this life.
But Grandad wouldn't let that happen. I don't know how but he came up with the money to fix my dad's legs. Before insurance, before government help, just by the sweat of his brow.
He's gone from horse and buggy to interstates.
From working hard to being retired for 37 YEARS!
From having a wife of 75 years to living alone.
He's outlived on child and may outlive another.
From letters to the internet.
He's belonged to the same church for 51 years.
He still attends his class reunion, it's a multiple year reunion. Good thing because he is the only one left of his class.
He has Grandkids in their 40's and 50's.
We took a 5 generation picture yesterday, and not one marriage was from someone in their teen's.
I talk to him several times a month. He is sharp as a tack and will do as he pleases, thank you very much!
I pray he goes before he would have to be put in a home.
And I can't tell you how much I will miss him when he's gone.
But for today, I just have to say how thankful I am to have him!
Happy Birthday Grandad!